After a long haul over snow drowned Ostland salvation was at last in sight. Their journey was uneventful afterwards with only themselves for company and Gunther's preaching to keep them motivated, whether it was to keep forward to make him shut up or to stab him in the back as soon as possible was uncertain. Malik toyed with his gem and found it allowed him to see normally through it, winds and obscuring conditions removed when it came to the weather. Even as snow lightly dusted his shoulders and head many acres lay clear beneath grey skies when viewed through his newest acquisition. It would in time fill him with great relief as he saw the outskirts of Rossin, at least relief until he realized it was a bleaker sight than even Bokenhof had been post sacking. Several farm houses were dotted across the land and these all appeared abandoned upon closer inspection once they had started walking nearer. From various spots along the road Arab could see patches of ice clung to walls or fallen animals in the yards, clinging like moss to wood and bone alike. A hound lay half buried in the snow, dead flesh clinging to canine skull which was nudged up to a fence post. Its presumable owners home lay open to the elements with fogged windows and a fallen door laying before it. Elsewhere a squat two room building had half way collapsed from weight of heavy snow fall driving its roof to buckle inward leaving only the rib like protrusions of bulging walls pressured still by an uncaring and unrelenting mother nature, whom at this point was starting to seem a touch suspect. As ever the snow storm hadn't stopped. "LOOK!" Malik saw it first but Argot was the most eager upon spotting torches moving about ahead. While outlying homes had been desolated by such weather it seemed Rossin itself was intact enough as guards still stood watch and most of its homes all appeared to be standing. Closing in upon the wall-less hamlet they were greeted by a trio of army troopers stationed behind a pair of staked barricades that flanked each side of the road. "HOLD! Who goes there?" Each man looked ready for battle and were armored in the distinct striped black and white of Ostland while the two shield bearers proudly bore their kite shields emblazoned with a snorting bulls head. The man addressing them wore a wide brimmed cap and currently had a handful of worn, frayed feathers poking outward over its peak. "Argot, Farull, Malik, Snik, Sneek, Gunther 'Da Loud' - " "That's enough of that...what's with the Skaven and Goblins? " Gesturing at Snik, Sneek then to the Gnoblars skulking around Farull the guard growled letting his double handed hammer settle comfortably in each glove. "Wait..that 'un Gunther right? War Priest what in Sigmar's good an proper name are ya doin' with a lot like this? " @Colapse @Skarboy @High_Adept_Zeth @FlashyGit @Grall_Stonefist @Casavay @Maleth @Vanestus
"Greetings fair defenders," Gunther stepped forward, his warhammer held in tight grip across his shoulder, "You have nothing to worry about from us. We are a mercenary group "Warriors of the World" and we travel the lands of the Empire in seek of honest work." "Currently, we are heading into Kislev to help the fair people there battle the threat of Chaos. However, we have been attacked numerous times on the road here, so if you could open your gates for us for we need shelter for the night, the Sigmar will bless your village. And maybe you have some work an armed group of men like us can help you with?"
"Well if that's the case I suppose we'll let your lot in Sir, keep a good eye on them. " Speaking directly to Gunther the guard stepped aside, Argot snorting distastefully at the idea of his henchman keeping an eye on him. "If you're looking for work you'll be looking for the good Captain in charge of our unit. Might have some good honest work for Sigmar fearin' folk like yourselves...." Less convinced in his second line they were free to head in regardless. Argot rounding them up just beyond the barricade. "Alright everyone on free time, Farull lets go find us food. Rest of you go be useful or be relaxed, me no care for rest of night. " Man-Eater had warmed up surprisingly fast to what had initially been a potential rival in the group, smacking Farull on the shoulder as he made for a two story structure with an acid stained sign reading 'Fairday's Last Flask'. With that everyone was free to begin pursuing their own objectives whatever they may be.
As the group had been alowed to reign free for now, and now that they had finally reached a place unbroken, Thorkild could get to hopefully enact the first step towards a grudge setteled, and Thorkild would take this one step by step, for he was not a slayer as of yet, so no reason to run headlesses into what could end up as a big fight. Without much else he decided to then break away from the group, and though he still had his limp, healing was not first on his list, locating a blacksmith or possibly a metal workshop was, surely any mansling would want a dwarf in their establishment.
"Thank you," Gunther nodded to the guards as they let them in, "I will pray for the well-being of your families." Stepping in yet another poor village, the Warrior Priest faced his comrades as they dispersed, making note that Argot heard him. "I will listen to that man's advice and go see this Captain, maybe even find us some work but more importantly, get us fresh information about the land ahead of us. We must know if there were any sightings of bigger bands of mutants, beastmen herds and so on." "If anyone else wishes to tag along he is free to do so. Once I'm done I'll find you in the inn. So long," he said and went off to look for village's barracks in a hope to find this captain and maybe get them something to do.
Farull smiled and laughed, nodding his head. "Yea lets go i'm starving." He followed Argot rubbing his hands together thinking of the food that awaited him.
Without any words but with quite the dirty looks towards these man-things that had stopped them, Sneek chose to remain on Argot's massive shoulders, leaving his wounds some time to recover. He was still a bit angry that the fire-man-thing had not immediately satisfied his curiosity, but that only meant his inevitable end would come quicker.
<Before> "Well...it does not differs from our blessing.Ormuzd merely allows me to pass judgement in his name.Sometimes...fiery one."spoke Malik as he glanced toward Gunther,the man still helping Baldur walk. Observing the road ahead,Malik was surprised to find that the gem canceled the effects of the blizzard.He could see clearly as if the great sun shined upon them in summer fashion.Confused he peered through it a few more times,reaching a concenssus that indeed it was the gem`s doing. (@Colapse ) "Why did he leave?"asked Malik Gunther,almost as an afterthought,the Vizier clearly preoccupied with other matters. Interrupted by ratman from his investigation,Malik peered down from at the creature,suppressing a repulsive desire to kick the creature away with his boot.Easily suppressed by a thought of Argot being displeased and Thorklid`s recent...injuries. ( @Casavay ) "Ah..."spoke Malik as he took a few moments to compose an answer "...my scimitar does not burn on his own."elaborated Arabyan as he flashed a bit of the blade from its scabbard,in case the creature was unfamiliar with the word "scimitar". "I pour black gold over it and,when it is ignited,it can burn for a very long time."spoke Vizier,satisfied at the obscure answer he gave him. <Now> Nodding to the guards as the group passed the barricade,Malik couldn't shake off the images from the deserted houses and huts on the outskirts of this hamlet.He saw them perhaps in too detailed a manner,and at that moment Vizier cluched the gem in his hand,putting it away in the insides of his robe. As Gunther made his way...Malik gestured to the abandoned houses over the barrickades with his head,asking the rest of the group: "Is that...usual during the high snows?"spoke Malik suddenly sympathetically as he felt a tingle of guilt that he will rest in a warm tavern with a warm stew to heat up his belly,while the common folk suffered somewhere Usirian knows where.
With the band dispersing, Sakeis decided to tag along with Gunther for the moment seeing that it would be helpful if he stayed in the loop about any information or work that the Warrior Priest might get from the Captain of the Guard... Even if it meant missing out on a chance to go and see if Malik had been telling the truth but ultimately it was a trivial matter that wasn't worth doggedly perusing.
@High_Adept_Zeth <Before> "He left the Empire to go and battle the servants of Chaos in the distant battlefields," Gunther explained, "He was certain that the people he left behind could take care of themselves and that they didn't need his help anymore. And he was right for during long years many enemies tried to conquer the Empire but all of them failed and are now dead or gone." <Now> "Aye Malik, it is usual, especially this far north," Warrior Priest replied as they walked, "And it will only get worse. The winters are long and cold here, many of the poor don't have much chance...perhaps only if they are lucky to pay their way into the cities or villages, but staying out there in the open is signing your own death, be it from cold or from monsters...Sad but true."
